Paul Nadler, music director of Fort Myers' Southwest Florida Symphony since 1990, will step down in 2006, the Fort Myers News-Press reports.

Nadler is credited with turning a community group into a professional ensemble, according to the paper. Under his leadership, the SWFS has performed with such guest artists as violinist Glenn Dicterow and pianist Misha Dichter and has expanded its chorus.

"I feel that the Southwest Florida Symphony has now reached a professional level that the entire community can be proud of," Nadler said in a statement. "I can now move on to new career opportunities awaiting me in both the national and international music scenes.

Nadler is a frequent guest conductor at the Metropolitan Opera and principal guest conductor of the Iasi Philharmonic Orchestra in Romania.

The SWFS plans to assemble a group of finalists to succeed Nadler by 2007, executive director Shirley Furry told the paper.